Accra-Kumasi Expressway to create 30,000 Jobs – Finance Minister

The Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, says the construction of the new Accra-Kumasi Expressway is expected to create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs for Ghanaians.

He said the project was part of government’s broader investment in road infrastructure, aimed at improving connectivity while creating employment and expanding economic opportunities.

The Accra-Kumasi Expressway is a flagship project under the government’s Big Push Infrastructure Programme. The planned six-lane, bidirectional expressway will run on a new alignment and is expected to reduce the distance between Accra and Kumasi from about 250 kilometres to 198.7 kilometres. It is also projected to cut travel time by roughly half and reduce transport costs by nearly 40 percent.

The project is designed to improve the movement of people and goods between Ghana’s two major economic centres while supporting trade, logistics and businesses along the corridor. It will include major interchanges, bridges, service areas and automated tolling facilities.

Government has also indicated that the existing Accra-Kumasi road will not be abandoned. President John Dramani Mahama has explained that the current route and the new expressway will operate alongside each other, with the expressway providing a faster option, particularly for heavy trucks and other long-distance traffic.

As part of preparations for the new expressway, government has secured US$1.7 billion, which has been deposited into a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana. The funds are ring-fenced for the project and are expected to be used after the main construction contract is awarded.

The Ghana Armed Forces had also cleared about 122 kilometres of the required right-of-way, representing roughly 70 percent, as of July 2026, while feasibility studies, environmental assessments and detailed engineering designs were progressing.

The Finance Minister’s emphasis on job creation comes as government positions the expressway not only as a transport project but also as an economic development initiative. The 2026 Budget indicates that the project is expected to stimulate industrial parks, logistics hubs and service businesses along the route.

Dr Forson’s position is that investment in roads must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, with improved connections opening up opportunities for employment, trade and economic activity.

“The Accra-Kumasi Highway will create 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, providing work for Ghanaians,” the Finance Minister stated.

He added that government’s investment in roads is intended to ensure that better connections lead to better livelihoods for Ghanaians.

By Agnes Kusi